Few characters have made such an impact in the history of Scottish football as John Lambie.

The term ‘maverick’ doesn't quite do justice to the man, who lit up the game as often a as often as he did a White Owl cigar in the Firhill dugout.

The pigeon-fancying, expletive-loving, sheepskin-coat wearing ex Partick Thistle boss was the epitome of an ‘old school’ manager, a true one-off who spent 44 years in football as a player and then manager.

Although he had spells as manager of Falkirk and Hamilton Accies, it was his time at the helm of the Jags that will forever be remembered, as the man who single-handedly saved the club from oblivion in the late ‘90s.

He was Mr Partick Thistle; a man capable of taking football's cast offs and getting them to run through brick walls for him.

There is a goldmine of quotes and out there, some of which spell out the realities of the beautiful game in the simplest of terms. And one of which is arguably the greatest quote every uttered by a Scottish manager.

“Pittodrie is the hardest place to go to in Scottish football. It’s like a British boxer going to Italy. You have to knock them out to get a draw.”

John Lambie watching his Thistle side against St Mirren. (Image: SNS Group)

On playing Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in August 1986

“I never finish buying players. I’m like my wife when I go out shopping. I never want to stop.”

On the transfer market

“The chairman said on the bus going to Ibrox that if it went to a replay it couldn’t go on at Douglas Park because of the new lights being installed there. I said to him: ‘I suppose we’ll just have to go and win it then.’”

Following Accies’ Scottish Cup win over Rangers in January 1987

“Our defence couldn’t keep weans out of a close.”

Following Thistle’s 6-3 defeat of Dundee in August 1992

“That’s great. Tell him he’s Pele and get him back on.”

Lambie in November 2002 (Image: Roddy Scott/SNS Group)

His most famous quote, after being told that striker Colin McGlashan was concussed and didn’t know who he was in 1993.

“I’m not going to praise them. We were a disgrace in that first half. In the second half it was easy to look good. Ian Cameron may have got four goals but he needed a good kick up the arse before he started playing. And I can tell you that won’t be the team for Saturday because it wasn’t as good as the scoreline sounds.”

Following the Jags’ 11-1 League Cup win in August 1993 v Albion Rovers.

“I’ve never been to a pop concert. I don’t think I’d be missing much.”

February 1993

“Our first goal was pure textile.”

Date and fixture unknown

“He knew it was never a penalty even while running towards the spot to give it”

Lambie on referee Kenny Clark after a League Cup tie between St Johnstone and Clyde